THE MAZE RUNNER (2014) Directed by Wes Ball – 9G Genre Study (Sci Fi/Dystopian)

Pre-Viewing Questions
1. What is a dystopian society?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

2. What would you do if your memory was wiped and you couldn't remember any specifics about your
life?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

While viewing the film

Tick all the conventions of the dystopian genre that you observe in the film.

o A strict division of citizens by intellect, ability, and class.

o The State controls groups and/or government control is evident.
o There is a cult personality created by the State.
o Family has been eradicated/eroded.
o Dystopian genres emphasise powerlessness of individuals in the face of an oppressive
government.
o Paranoia is very evident among the citizens of dystopian societies who live in fear and who are
being monitored, betrayed or manipulated.
o A futuristic society is evident, eg. through the use of advanced technology or a futuristic setting.
o Propaganda is used to control the citizens of society.
o Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted.
o Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance.
o Citizens have a fear of the outside world.
o Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individuality and dissent are bad.
o The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world.
o The dystopian protagonist often feels trapped and is struggling to escape.
o The dystopian protagonist questions the existing social and political systems.
o The dystopian protagonist believes or feels that something is terribly wrong with the society in
which they live.
 THE MAZE RUNNER (2014) Directed by Wes Ball – 9G Genre Study (Sci Fi/Dystopian)
o The dystopian protagonist helps the audience recognise the negative aspects of the dystopian
world through their perspective.

After viewing the film

- Select two conventions from your list that you ticked.
- For each one, explain/identify/recount the scene in which this convention was evident.
- Analyse a film technique in your response.
An example is listed below to assist you.
Selected convention: Dystopian genres emphasise powerlessness of individuals in the face of an
oppressive government

Where I saw this convention in the film:

In The Maze Runner, when Teresa arrives in the
maze, she is seen to be curled up in a ball.
Teresa is clearly struggling to become alert of
her surroundings and is the only female
amongst a large group of men. This scene
makes Teresa look inferior, weak and
powerless as she has been placed there
against her own will.

How the director used film techniques to

communicate this:
In this scene, the director uses a high angle shot to look down on Teresa and the rest of the group,
further enforcing her sense of powerlessness.
Convention 1: __________________________________________________________________________
Where I saw this convention in the film:
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
How the director used film techniques to communicate this:
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Convention 2: __________________________________________________________________________
Where I saw this convention in the film:
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
 THE MAZE RUNNER (2014) Directed by Wes Ball – 9G Genre Study (Sci Fi/Dystopian)
How the director used film techniques to communicate this:
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________